then the English are certainely destroyed for the Irish continuing in their full multitudes and fully armed will be masters both of governement and interest both of King and Subject the English cannot inhabit here 15. This Cessation cannot give us Corne till harvest in the meane time wee starve though they strive to send us in Cattell which is much doubted they can very hardly doe 16. The Cessation will provide onely for the Army and that in a scant measure not enough to serve halfe the yeare what shall the poore English robbed subjects doe they have neither money nor meanes to buy foode but the English must all be gone which is the principall labour of the Irish and of those that have promoted this Cessation 17. If all the Armes of the Irish mighe have bin delivered up and the Towns rendered to us we might perhaps have had a little breathing but no security so long as such huge numbers of the Irish remaine and the English in such paucity and weakenesse 18. This Cessation will utterly deface our Religion and set up Popery in the full height 19. The harvest saved to them and lost to us will be of much greater value to them for the subsistence and advantage then all that they can give us can be to us besides the lengthening of the warre for many yeares 20. Their malice is now more and their power more then at the beginning can we thinke they will hold longer with us then they see their time 21. This Cessation leades to a peace and being as is principally pretènded by reason of our extreame necessities and the failer of the Parliament even to save our lives whereas in truth our lives are not worth the dishonour and detriment it will bring to the Crowne and English Nation and it must worke to base ends even to give the Irish all the Lands and for ever keepe out the English which is the thing mainely affected and to worke the dissolving of the Act for the Adventurers and to smother all the cruelties murthers and rapines committed by the Irish 22. It doth utterly discourage all the English and makes them forsake the Kingdome all they can which will soone be done 23. The Rogues of this Rebellion though not seemingly countenanced by the great ones being needy and in want will steale all our Cowes c. from our garisons and no remedy 24. The Cessation hath in pretence an aime at our subsistence and to be founded only on our necessities which truly is a dangerous ground of peace amongst so persidious a people but the inward meaning is the preservation and restitution of the Irish and keeping out the English and English governement neither doth it seeme to be a thing so resolutely commanded by the King for it hath bin said openly if we would lend 10000lb. there should be no Cessation and yet the King should be satisfied or if we would propound any other way for maintenance the like should be done 25. It is a certaine way to lose Ulster which is now in a manner intirely in our hands and we in a faire way to Connaught 26. New the Cattell which we gaine though they be sold deare here yet our Souldiers have the money who spend it amongst us but if the Cessation proceed then we must buy Corne and Cattell from the Rebels who will have all our money 27. Lastly Although we are truely in a most miserable case for subsistence gasping daily for the last breath by samine or our owne enemies Sword seeming for a time to be left by the Parliament through the intemperate exclamations of a wanting Army and our Soveraigne Lord the King not able at the present to helpe us Yet doubtlesse it is lesse dishonourable and shall render us lesse scandalous to posterity to die with our Swords in our hands yet expecting Gods mercy then by a craved Cessation and in a certaine destruction to tye up our hands now helping us a little and yeild up our selves and the Kingdome against his Majesty and the Crowne of England into the hands of barbarous Rebells who thirst only to riot in the blood of innocent English and the utter abolition of the Protestant Religion The new Oath made by the supreame Councell of the Rebels of IRELAND at Kilkenny WHereas the Romish Catholiques of this Kingdome of Ireland have bin enforced to take Armes for the necessary defence and preservation as well of the Religion plotted and by manifold practises endeavoured to be quite suppressed by the Puritan faction as likewise the lives estates and liberties as also for the defence and safeguard of his Majesties regall Powers just Prerogatives Honours Estates and Rights invaded upon And for that it is requisite that there should be an unanimous consent and reall union between all the Catholiques of this Realme to maintaine the premises and strengthen them against the Adversaries It is thought fit that they and whosoever shall adhere to their parties as a confederate should for the better assurance of the adhering fidelity and constancy for the publike cause take this ensuing Oath I A. B. Doe promise sweare and protest before God and his Saints and Angels that I will beare faith and Allegiance to our Soveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of God King of Great Brittany France and Ireland and to his Pleyres and lawfull Successors and that I will to my power during my life defend uphold and maintaine all his and their just Prerogatives Estates and Rights the Power and Priviledge of the Parliament of this Realme the fundamentall Lawes of Ireland the free exercise of the Catholique Romish Faith and Religion throughout this Land and the Lives just Liberties Possessions Estates and Rights of all those that have taken or shall take this Oath and performe the contents thereof And that I will obey and ratisie all the Orders and Decrees made and to be made by the suprcame Councell of the confederate Catholiques of this Kingdome concerning the publike cause And that I will not seeke or receive directly or indirectly any pardon or protection for any act done or to be done touching this generall cause without the consent of the major part of the said Councell And that I will not directly or indirectly doe any act or acts that shall prejudice the said Cause but will to the hazard of my life and estate assist prosecute and maintaine the same So helpe me God and his holy Gospell Killmore Castle in Ireland Iune 23 1643. A Letter from Sir Robert Stewart Knight and Colonell to the Earle of Eglington Right Honourable and my very Noble Lord YOur Lordships I received the very same day before Sir William Stowart and I with the rest of the Forces here tooke our march upon a late expedition to the Counties of Monoghan and Tirone for the which and all your Lordships kind expressions unto me I give your Lordship many hearty thanks and am your Lordships most humble servant and for what happened in the same
ANOTHER EXTRACT of more LETTERS sent out of IRELAND Informing the condition of the Kingdome as it now stands SIR SIthence my last to you that is to say the 23. of June the Marquesse went to meete the Rebels at Castle-marten neare Killcullen Bridge where for the Rebels there met for the Province of Leinster the Lord Viscount Gormonston and Sir Robert Talbot for the Province of Munster the Lord Viscount Muskerry and John Welsh the Lawyer for the Province of Connaught Sir Lucas Dillon and Ieffery Browne the Lawyer for the Province of Vlster Tirlogh ô Neale Sir Philem ô Neales Brother and Ever M. Gennys of Killwarlin There went with the Marquesse the Earle of Roscommon the Lord Moore Sir Francis Willoughby Sir Thomas Lucas Sir Iames Ware Serjeant Eustace Colonell Muncke Colonell Gibson and many others Our Commissioners and others were in severall Chambers and as I heare Treated by writing onely sometimes Messengers went betweene them The Lord Taaffe was at that place and very busie they continued there till the first of Iuly and appointed the 18. of Iuly to meete againe but being better advized upon the unreasonablenesse of the Rebels demands they met no more but brake off the Treaty as 't is reported and are now preparing with all speed to take the Field In my last Letters that miscarried at Sea I wrote you word of a great overthrow given by Sir Robert Stewart Sir William Stewart and Sir William Coles Forces against Owen Roe ô Neale the Rebels Generall of Vlster where after a long fight they beate them and killed 1000. of them as is reported tooke a very great prey of Cattell above 6000. Cowes as it is said many prisoners of note taken and Owen Roe ô Neale escaped very narrowly so-that in Vlster appeares no Army of the Rebels and those Irish which are left there are eating up of one another through famine About a weeke before the Treaty for a Cessation here was a report that Preston the Rebels Generall with some Souldiers was come into Meath about Tecrohan and those parts but with how many and for what cause we had not so good intelligence as to know yet Colonell Muncke then ready to goe for England was intreated by the State to goe out towards him with a party of men who yeelded to it he should have had 1500 Foote at the first and 3 or 400 Horse but they were so scattered here and there up and downe in the Countrey that he had but 1200 Foote and about 150 Horses he relieved Castle Iordan and some other parts thereabouts and comming homeward by Clancarry about 15 miles from Dublin Preston meets him with about 6000 Foote and 600 Horse some that were present there and had seene all the Armies on both sides since the Rebellion first began doe affirme that this of Prestons was the greatest both sides did strive for a straight passage which Muncke was of necessity to goe over for which they disputed the matter a good while but Colonell Munck gained it then they encountred and fought a good while till Preston and his Army very stoutly ranne away having lost about 150 of his men killed in the place as 't was reported to me and tooke many of their Armes and some Colours and of our side not one man killed onely one man shot but not dead thus God yet preserves us miraculously and why we should distrust him who deales thus for us I know not It is thought by some that Preston had a designe upon Dublin comming so neare it with such an Army and having no Enemy or other place to looke for thereabouts Dublin July 5 1643. Written againe from thence by the same hand being a man of credit and worth in the City of Dublin I Wrote in my last how Colonell Muncke had beaten Preston but not being able to pursue him he having so small a party and wanting meanes he marched into the Counties of Wickloe and Wexford and as he returned burnt most of the Towne of Arckloe but the Castle there was too well fortified for him to deale with he returned home to Dublin the last Munday and brought with him about 500 Cowes which he gave amongst the Souldiers In the meane time Preston tooke in Crohan and Edenderry in the Kings County and is now marching againe towards Castle Iordan to besiege it Though Captaine Bartlet came to us the last weeke with that provision which the Parliament sent us yet our Commanders say they cannot stirre without 5 or 6000lb. to provide for their traine of Artillery for Carriages for Shooes for the Souldiers and such like necessaries which money when and how it will be gotten here none knowes the Protestants especially are so drained that they have little or nothing left and the Papists will lend nothing The Rebels agree well together so doe not we and if we spend time about private differences one with another and seeking to charge and undermine our selves what must become of the publike It is still confirmed that there are no Rebels to be seene in Vlster and that the Irish that are there are so miserable that they eate their children and one another a just judgement of God upon them for their cruelties Owen Roe ô Neale their Generall in that Province with all his men are said to be gone into Connaught and that the Scottish Army is gone after him but I heare of no message sent by them to our State here of it so that what they will doe we know not onely of this I am sure if things were now well followed by them as they might be and that we had but some money for the Officers Victuall and Ammunition and that well ordered and governed as it should be we might by Gods help breake the heart of this Warre in a very short time Bartlet came in a blessed time for in that time upon a strickt search in Dublin there was but 400 Barrels of Corne found in the whole City for all the Army and Inhabitants here multitudes of the poore English come still from Vlster and other parts as they get from the Rebels which fills us with famine Dublin 12 July 1643. From the same hand THat provision of Victuals brought by Bartlet was a meanes of keeping us from a desolation which then was falling upon us but that is almost spent and we shall suddenly fall into the same case againe if we be not supplied and if we shall be supplied in time with necessaries there is no doubt but by Gods blessing we may have a quick end of the Warre for the maine of it for Vlster is already upon the matter conquered and no Rebels in a body to be now seene there The Pale is so wasted that scarce a Cow Garron or Man is to be seene in many miles together and the eares of the Corne which is now growing in many of these parts is so generally cut off now before it is ripe by the hunger-starved Rebels that very
late petitioned to the Earl of Clanrickard against the Lord Forbus who hath already committed severall acts of hostility that his Lordship might perswade him to part quietly with his forces or to give them leave to stand for their own defence the answer of which was transferred to this day at Longreagh where Clanrickard my Lord President and the chief of that county meet and from thence my Lord President goeth to Galloway Sir what their resolution will be I cannot yet imagine but feare much so generall a meeting will produce a strange issue tending to our deserved ruine which I commit to a higher power to prevent then any commission that comes from Parliament The County of Maio forces is gathered to Sethruell and intend to camp upon the confines of that County My Lord of Maio sent to us for aide being well known to his Lordship how able we are to spare any he was pleased to write plainly if we had not in retribution of their losse susteined in these parts parralelled his courtesies that we should expect no more aid from thence A fair excuse or a fit denyall sure the small forces we have here are in greater danger then that County which needeth not feare any forraigne invasion we are I protest unto you not above three hundred in number not like henceforth to be at any rest or quietnesse The Powder bestowed upon Connaught is brought partly to the county of Maio and some to the County of Galloway resolved upon not to be touched untill our Provinciall County distribute it as they think fittest when the Counsell is held I cannot well assure you the report of the arriving of shipping at Sligo give we no little occasion of feare which I pray with expedition to certifie me And if my own repair be any whit necessary upon the landing any new supplies I will not fail to post night and day unto you I hope your Counsell have agreed to meet often being very necessary especially now I doubt not they will be soon called upon to meet when ever I receive intelligence of the full true resolutions of the county of Galloway I have seen late intelligence of England of July date concerning the King Parliament who are at great distance the Lord of heaven continue them so untill I send them an absolution The powder made at Laughlin is as good as any is in Ireland we shall want no more of that commoditie so we be furnished with all other necessaries I pray Sir let my mother use all the hast she can to have the ditch wholly scowred about Ballymote Castle before the bad weather overtakes it I pray that I may have every second day what occurrents those parts affoord you In the intervall I present my service to our friends and rest Castle Keagh the 18 of August Your loving Collonell Lucas Taffe This letter was found in a Priests pocket that day we kild above 80 in the County of Sligo The names of such as have been hanged at Mannor Hamilton by Martiall Law since the beginning of this Rebellion Decemb 3. Turlogh mac Clevor Neale Mac Cluan Mannâ— O Gallogher Manns O Hoy Decem. 12. Phelomy Duff Mac Cob Decemb. 18 Gelpatrick O Kan Brian O Moriice Decemb. 20. Turlogh O Cally. Ianuary 2. Brian O Cannan Con O Rourk the Collonells brother Ianuary 8. Connour mac Shane Glasse Mac Laugblin the chief of his name Aug. 23. Owen Mac Garraghy Cormack O Cornan August 31 Shane Mac Skerrie Iohn Spence Septemb. 10. Captain Con O Connour Credough Mac Derno Cor Mac O Hay had been a Minister Teig Mac Goane Septemb. 4 Brian Mac Diffet Septem 17. Donnogh O Dâ—wde Septem 19 Grany O Dowgan Patrick O Neale Febru 2 ohn Wytherspin Febru 11. Donnogh boy O Bane Mewe Mac Laughlin Feb. 22. Owen Mac Thomas Murray Febru 26. Ferrall Mac Kegan Mar. 15 Turmultagh Mac Garraghy Subsheriffe deputy of Donegall Cormack O Hoyes wife neare kinswoman to O Connâ—ur 〈◊〉 8. Hugh O Hart Donnell O Hart. Grany ny Kâ—we Phâ—lomy mack A Naw Gilpattrick O Mullane 〈…〉 Laughlin O Degannian 〈…〉 Call boy mac Garty Donnogh O Hart 〈…〉 Hugh O Flin Iames Roch the chief Murcherer of the British at Sligo Donnell O Clery Hugh O Cullen Glany O Regan Iames Wytherspin Iuly 12 Iames halfpenny Iuly 26 Hugh O Fey Novem. 4. Garrat mac A Naâ— chief of his name Nov. 14. Cap. Charles mac Gwire Nov. 16. Phelomy Mac Pierce Decem. 22 in Gwyre Ianuary 7 Edmond Mac Gawran Turlogh Reagh O Mortelan Brian O Cuer February 3 Cormack O Cuer Cormack O Quillan Februar 18 Kaâ—ill mack Kan Donnel mac Glannagâ—y William mac Roregan Sir Robert Hannay his Letter and others being Prisoners at Sligo and sent to Domahere Castle Honourable Sir VVE the undernamed persons having suffered in all our whole estates and being upon our banishment out of this Kingdome under the safe conduct of Mr. Edmond Bourk Ragagh and Mr. Walter Bourk of Ardagh towards the North but most opposed at Castle Connour Enniscromne Escagh bridge Dawne Neale Arnaglesse and Tomler go by severall bands of armed mâ—n purposely set for our lives were not their extream violence suppressed by the discretion worth and care of those two Gentlemen and we taken prisoners by the mac Swines brought before O Connour Sligo where we now remain and intended to be sent unto the Castle of Dromaheere to be kept untill you Sir deliver such prisoners of the O Rourkes and others as you have in your custodie or to be dealt with as you doe unto them Sir you are nobly disposed so that in honour we hope the meanes of relief being now in your self you will not suffer us to perish who will ever remain Sir Yours truly obliged to serve you Robert Hannay Andrew Adare Alexander Montgomery William Liston Thomas Fullerton THese be the names and number of Prisoners Sir Robert Hannay his Lady his two daughters two boyes two men and a Gentlewoman Mr. Andrew Adare and his wife and sisters sonne Mr. Alexander Montgomery his wife and eldest sonne Mr. William Liston his wife and daughter Mr. Thomas Fullerton and his wife Patrick Deomond Mr. Adares man Sir after the writing of this Letter we are brought to Dromaherre and order left by the Captaines to bring us unto the Camp at Mannor Hamilton where we must suffer death if those Prisoners with you Sir be not delivered Sir Fredrick Hamiltons answer to the Letter afore-mentioned SIR I Have received your Letter whereby I am given to understand of your treacherous surprisall notwithstanding of your safe conduct promised for the which I am very sorry but such is the treacherous falshood of those disloyall tray tours generlly throughout this whole Kingdome that hath made me vow and sweare in the presence of Almighty God that I will never give nor take quarter with them or any of them yea though my own sons who have descended from my own Loins were in your estate I had rather they
expedition your Lordship shall have the true Relation of it as followeth and first when Sir William Stewarts Regiment Colonell Mervins and mine owne with five Companies out of Derry had marched a day or two together we had intelligence that Owen Mac Art ô Neale the Rebels great titulary Generall had drawn all the Forces in Vlster together with their whole Cowes and was upon their march for Connoght of purpose as we were informed to leave his weake people there and all their Cattell and to returne himselfe with a strong Army to assault us and the rest of the Brittish Army in Vlster upon which intelligence we hastned our march to a place where we heard that he was to march through a place called Clownys in the County of Monnoghan being upon the roade way from Tirone to Connaught and about some 25 miles distant from Charlemount and through Gods providence it fell out that upon the 13 of this instant June a Scout of Horse which I sent out I having the Van that day discovered the Irish Army upon the which I gave order that our Army in regard of their hard march formerly should refresh themselves with one houre or two's rest which was done accordingly and so we strengthened our Porlorne guard and so continued our march towards them whenas we advanced neare unto them we discovered their Horse drawne up upon a peece of ground of advantage and from them were commanded out a party of their best Horse very well mounted which in a daring insulting way came up and charged some of my Troope which they received very resolutely and after a whiles dispute they were put to a retreate in this interim a party of the Rebels Foote had drawne up into a place where was a narrow stone causey and straight passe where they thought to keepe up our Horse but was put from it by our commanded men and so the passe was cleered and my Troope being seconded by Sir William Stewarts Troope and Sir William Belfores advanced forward upon their Horses and our commanded men on both sides gave very good fire upon one another the way where the rest of our Army marched was very narrow so that none of them came to doe service excēpt only the sirst division of my Regiment which I led on my selfe and before ever the second division came to my service notwithstanding that there was 11 Colours of the Rebels upon service all the while the Rebels was routed both Foote and Horse and our light wings and Cannons did very good service and many of the chiefest and best of their Forraigne Officers were either killed in the filds or taken prisoners for our Horse had the killing of them for 8 or 9 miles together upon all hands and our Foote for 5 miles or thereabouts where was done great execution upon the best of their men Owen Mac Art ô Neale himselfe very narrowly escaped for the Captaine of my Troope was in gripes with him but his Horse stumbled and he was hurt with a shot and Owen Mac Art was releeved by one of his Captaines One ô Mellane who is now prisoned with me severall other prisoners I have as one Colonell Brother sonne to Owen Mac Art and bred a Souldier borne in Brussels another Lieutenanr Colonell who hath bin an Officer abroad this 24 Yeares cal Shane ô Neale 3 Captaines Named Art ô Neale Shane ô Neale and Pattick ô Mullin and 3 Gentlemen of quality Named William ô Clenton Manns ô Sheale and Con ô Neale great store of Armes we had both for Horse and Foote and I beleeve they carried few with them for my Regiment had 300 Muskets for their share besides many Swords Petronels and Pistolls besides all that the rest of the Regiments had That night Owen Mac Art himselfe betooke him to a Wood where was a Friery within 7 or 8 miles to Charlemount where he lodged that night with six only in his company as I was informed by a party of mine which I sent out the next morning to that same Wood but before they came they were unfortunately escaped and my men burnt the Friery and brought away a great prey of Cowes with them and so spent 7 or 8 dayes in ranging the Countrey good numbers every day of scattered Roagues we killed in woods Boggs and Mountaines the strength of the Rebels Army was neere 3000 good men by relation of some of themselves who now are Prisoners besides those that were with the Cowes thus giving glory to God Almighty in whose power it is with few to defeate a great many this being the true Relation wishing your Lordship all health and happinesse I rest Your Lordships loving and obedient servant Robert Stewart They had 32 Colours with 3000 Foote and 300 Horse A Letter written by Owen Mac Art ô Neale the day after they lost this Batell unto Sir Robert Stewart SIR I Should intreate you to be pleased for to certifie unto me by this bearer what prisoners you have taken or have in restraint of ours since the other day together with your demands whether you will exchange them for any Prisoners wee have or if for Ransome how much wherein you shall doe me a curtesie and to your selfe no hurt for now though Fortune be favourable unto you it may chance fall out hereafter that your kindnesse and favour therein may be requited if ever it comes in the way of Your assured Friend as I find you Owen ô Neale From our Campe the 16 of June 1643. This Campe was only himselfe and 5 or 6 more I pray let this bearer see the prisoners By a Letter dated the 20 of June 1643. From London-derry it is thus written by Captaine Henry Finch of the said City THat upon the twelfth of the said June 600 chosen men out of that City and 60 Horse joyned with Regunents of Sir Robert and Sir William Stewart and Colonell Audley Mervin who met with Art Mac ô Neale the Generall of the Irish Forces in Vlster and all his strength neare a Towne called Clownes about 50 miles from our said City of London-derry where but a part of our Army being drawne up had a glorious day slew 500 of the Rebles in the place whereof 150 Commanders and Gentlemen of their prime who fought couragiously for their lives We tooke prisoners who are now in our Jayle Hugh ô Neale Colonell Shane ô Neale Lieutenant Colonell Art ô Neale Captaines Shane ô Neale Captaines Pattrick ô Mullin Captaines William O clinton Lieutenant Manus ô Sheile Gentlemen Con ô Neale Gentlemen All men of prime note and very considerable we lost only 6 or 8 Troopers but many dangerously hurt where of Sir William Stewarts some was and Captaine Garthconte Captaine of Sir Roberts Troope and other men who came bravely on that day It was a great Victory and neere a breake-neck to the Northerne Forces of the Irish Rebels It was Gods doing 500 of our men did not fight for it the greatest part of our Army